Royals 1, Tigers 0
Royals 1, Tigers 0: Ervin Santana threw 7 1/3 dominant innings as host Kansas City started the second half of the season by snapping a five-game losing streak.
Santana (6-6) allowed only two hits and walked one while striking out six to rebound from a rocky outing prior to the All-Star break. Facing the top hitting team in the major leagues, he retired the first 10 batters and faced just one over the minimum through the first seven frames.
Billy Butler was 2-for-4 and drove in the only run Santana needed with a single in the bottom of the first. The Royals managed just two hits after the second inning but held on to defeat the American League Central-leading Tigers for the fourth time in the last five meetings.
Anibal Sanchez (7-7) was the tough-luck loser, allowing a run and four hits in six frames. He did walk five batters, the veteran's highest total since he also issued five free passes on Sept. 26, 2011.
Santana threw 106 pitches before being pulled following a one-out walk in the eighth. Kelvin Herrera recorded the final two outs of the inning and All-Star Greg Holland recorded his 23rd save with a perfect ninth, completing the combined two-hitter.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Kansas City recalled Herrera and IF Chris Getz from Triple-A Omaha. The club had optioned LHP Everett Teaford and INF Johnny Giavotella to Omaha on Thursday. ... Detroit entered with a team average of .281, four points higher than any other team, before a 2-for-28 effort. ... Sanchez has allowed two runs on 14 hits in 22 career innings against the Royals.